Fishing reel

ABSTRACT

A fishing reel provided with a spool, a drive mechanism for driving the spool, a clutch mechanism for allowing the spool to freely rotate with respect to the drive mechanism, and a clutch operating mechanism, is constructed so that an angler, when pushing an operating portion of a clutch lever provided at the clutch operating mechanism to disconnect the clutch mechanism, may put the tip of his finger operating the operating portion in close proximity to the outermost layer of a fishing line wound onto the spool, thereby making it possible to stop free rotation of the spool, by use of his finger, in continuation of its pushing the operating portion.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 636,069,filed Jul. 30, 1984 now abandoned which in turn is a continuation ofSer. No. 440,426 filed Nov. 9, 1982 now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates a fishing reel, and more particularly to afishing reel which has a spool journalled to a pair of side frames atthe reel body, the spool being driven by a drive mechanism and beingfreely rotatable with respect thereto by a clutch mechanism which isoperated by a clutch operating mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the type of fishing reel described above has been well-knownas a double bearing reel, in which the clutch mechanism is provided witha clutch lever supported slidably to the reel body. The clutch lever hasat its utmost end an operating portion projecting from the outer surfaceof the reel body so that the operating portion may be manipulated todisconnect the clutch mechanism to make the spool freely rotatable forcasting.

An angler, when intending to perform casting, at first pushes theoperating portion by his finger and press-contacts the finger onto theoutermost layer of a fishing line wound on the spool to stop itsrotation, and then swings a fishing rod for casting.

The reason for the above is that the spool, unless its rotation isstopped, will continue its free rotation due to the weight of a rigattached to a line so that the fishing rig which is intentionally keptat the tip of the rod falls on the ground before the rig reaches adesired position.

The conventional double-bearing reel, however, has the operating portionof the clutch lever positioned apart from the spool so that the angler,when intending to stop the spool by use of his finger after pushing theoperating portion, cannot do so immediately, and a time differenceoccurs from the pushing of the operating portion and the stopping of thespool. As a result, he cannot permit a desired casting because thefishing rig falls from a desired location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above problem, this invention has been designed. Anobject of the invention is to provide a fishing reel which enables anangler to stop the free rotation of the spool almost simultaneously withthe pushing of the operating portion at the clutch lever.

This invention is directed at keeping the angler's finger for pushingthe operating portion in close proximity to the outermost layer of thefishing line wound on the spool when he intends to push the operatingportion, which is exposed from the outer surface of the reel body, anddisconnect the clutch mechanism.

Therefore, he can use his finger to stop the rotation of the spoolalmost simultaneously with pushing the operating portion, therebykeeping the fishing rig always in the most suitable position for adesired casting.

A preferable means for keeping the angler's finger in close proximity tothe outermost layer of the fishing line as is to provide an extention atthe operating portion extending toward the spool. Another preferablemeans is to provide the extension extending inwardly from one axial endsurface of the spool. Still another preferable means is to provide theextension extending slantwise radially inwardly of the spool so that theangler can move his finger slidably to contact with the outermost layerof the fishing line wound onto the spool. The outermost layer of thewound fishing line serves as the criterion for setting the operatingportion and also includes the outer periphery of each flange of thespool.

These and other objects of the invention will be seen by reference tothe description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view of an embodiment of a fishing reel ofthe invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II--II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view explanatory of a modified embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fishing reel is shown which has a spoolshaft 3 having a spool 2 and journalled to a reel body 1. Reel body 1comprises a left-hand side-plate 11, a right-hand side-plate 12 having adoubling plate 14, and a plurality of connecting rods 13. A handle shaft20 having a master gear 5 is supported rotatably through a support shaft21, between the right-hand side plate 12 and a cup-shaped cover 4 at theoutside thereof, and projects at one axial end from the cover 4 so thata handle 22 is fixed to the extension of handle shaft 20. The spoolshaft 3 extends at one axial end to enter between the side-plate 12 andthe cover 4, and carries a pinion 6 engageable with the master gear 5,on the extension of spool shaft 3 in relation of being rotatable andaxially slidable. Between the pinion 6 and the main portion of spoolshaft 3 is provided a clutch mechanism 7, which engages or disengages bya clutch lever 8 so that a rotary force is transmitted from the handle22, and in turn the handle shaft 20, to the spool shaft 3 through thepinion 6 and clutch mechanism 7 to thereby rotate the spool 2 forwinding the line thereon, or the clutch lever 8 is operated to disengagethe clutch mechanism 7 to thereby allow the spool 2 to freely rotate.

Bearing housings 15, 16 and 41 are fabricated at the centers of theside-plates 11 and 12 and cover 4 respectively, their bearing housings15 and 16 being provided at the outer peripheries with cylindricalportions 15a and 16a each of an inner diameter slightly larger than anouter diameter of each flange of the spool 2 and at the central portionswith smaller diameter cylindrical bearing portions 15b and 16brespectively, the housings 15, and 41 encasing therein bearings 9 and 10respectively. Housing 16 encases a deflection bearing 16'.

Onto the extension of handle shaft 20 entering into the cover 4 isfreely rotatably fitted the master gear 5 and is not-rotatably fitted ananti-reverse-rotation plate 24 having a friction plate 23 and aplurality of projections 24a, so that the rotary force is transmittedfrom the handle shaft 20 to the master gear 5 through the friction plate23.

The clutch mechanism 7 comprises flat faces provided at an intermediateportion of spool shaft 3 and a cylindrical portion of a not-round innersurface provided at the pinion 6 and engageable with the flat faces, thecylindrical portion at the pinion 6 disengaging from the flat faces atthe spool shaft 3 by means of operation of the clutch lever 8, therebyallowing the spool shaft 3 and the spool 2 to freely rotate.

A clutch operating mechanism comprises the clutch lever 8 and a clutchyoke 30 holding the pinion 6 to always bias the clutch mechanism 7 inthe direction of its engagement, the clutch lever 8 being bifurcate atone end and having a biasing portion 81 to bias the clutch yoke 30 andat the other end an operating portion 82. The clutch lever 8 also issupported to the doubling plate 14 movably in reciprocation through apin 31 fixed perpendicularly to the spool shaft 3 and an elongate slot83 formed at the lever 8, and biased in the direction of the forwardmovement by a return spring (not shown) so that the operating portion 82is pushed to axially move the clutch yoke 30, thereby moving the pinion6 to disengage the clutch mechanism 7.

The handle 22 is rotated to allow the projection 24a at theanti-reverse-rotation plate 24 to hit a contact (not shown) at theutmost end of clutch lever 8 to thereby return the clutch lever 8 by theaid of the return spring and axially move the pinion 6 by the biasingforce of clutch yoke 30, thus engaging the clutch mechanism 7. Inaddition, the clutch lever 8 is swingable around the pin 31 at thedoubling plate 14 and has at the utmost end an engaging portion whichengages with a cutout stepped portion provided at the doubling plate 14,thereby holding the clutch lever 8 at the position where the forwardmovement thereof is terminated.

Furthermore, a drive mechanism for the spool 2 comprises the handleshaft 20, handle 22, master gear 5 and friction plate 23.

In the fishing reel constructed as described above, this invention isconstructed so that the operating portion 82 at the clutch lever 8 isexposed from the outer surface of the cover 4 at the reel body 1 so thata finger F, mainly the thumb, of the angler, after pushing the operatingportion 82, is positioned at the tip in close proximity to the outermostlayer of the line wound onto the spool 2 or the outer periphery offlange 2b at the spool 2 as shown by the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a part of the outer peripheral edge of therespective side-plate 12, doubling plate 14 and cover 4, in the vicinityof the lever 8 approaches the outer periphery of the larger diametercylindrical portion 16a, and the operating portion 82 at the lever 8 isprovided at the utmost end with an extension 82a extending toward thetrunk 2a of spool 2 so that the thumb F of the angler for pushing theoperating portion 82 is positioned at the tip in proximity to theoutermost layer L of the line wound onto the spool 2 and the extension82a is positioned at the utmost end near the utmost end of flange 2b atthe spool 2. Alternatively, the utmost end of operating portion 82 maybe positioned radially of the spool 2 in the vicinity of the outerperiphery of flange 2b as well as the outermost layer L of the line.

When an angler intends to cast the line by use of the fishing rod havinga real constructed as foregoing, at first he rotates the handle 22 towind up the line onto the spool 2 so that the fishing rig at the end ofthe line is kept in the vicinity of the tip of the fishing rod. He thenpushes the operating portion 82 to disconnect the clutch mechanism 7 andinhibits by his thumb F the free rotation of the spool 2, and thereafterswings the rod to cast the fishing rig. In this case, the operatingportion 82, after being pushed to disconnect the clutch mechanism 7,becomes positioned at the termination of the forward movement of thelever 8 and in proximity to the outermost layer of the line would ontothe spool 2 so that the tip of the angler's thumb F will approach theoutermost layer of the line to contact therewith, or about to do so,whereby the free rotation of spool 2 can be restrained almostsimultaneously with and in continuation of pushing the operating portion82.

As a result, the free rotation of spool 2 can be inhibited almostsimultaneously with the disconnection of clutch mechanism 7 to restrictto a minimum a fall of the fishing rig due to its weight, resulting in adesired casting.

In addition, the operating portion 82 in the above embodiment is notlimited particularly to a position radially outward of the spool 2.

The operating portion 82, which is parallel at the outer surface to theaxis of the spool 2, and in turn the spool shaft 3, may alternatively beslanted at the utmost end radially inwardly of the spool 2. In suchcase, the angler can shift his thumb F, after pushing the operatingportion 82, to quickly stop the free rotation of spool 2.

Also, the operating portion 82, which extends toward the spool 2 asshown in FIGS. 1 through 3, may, especially in a small-sized reel,extend toward the handle 22, which will achieve the same effect as theabove.

Alternatively, a left-hand handle type reel, as shown in FIG. 4, may beso constructed that a left-hand side-plate 11 is attached with adoubling plate 17 and a cup-shaped cover 18, which form a gear case, thecover 18 projecting at the outer edge axially outwardly with respect tothe aforesaid bearing housing 15, and the side-plate 11 and doublingplate 17 each are bent at the outer periphery in an approximately L-likeshape to provide a recess 50 at the position where the lever 8 issupported, thereby allowing the outer edge of the recess 50 to approachthe outer periphery of the bearing housing 15. The construction shown inFIG. 4 is also applicable to the right-hand handle type reel shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Elements denoted by a prime (') in FIG. 4 havecounterparts in FIG. 1, but are of slightly different configuration.

Furthermore, the clutch lever 8, which is biased in the direction ofbackward movement by the return spring, should be provided with aretaining means which retains the clutch lever 8 at the termination offorward movement against the return spring. When the clutch lever 8, isretained a slight backlash is created in the direction of backwardmovement to cause the operating portion 82 to move slightly away fromthe spool. Hence, it is preferable to use a torsion spring 60, insteadof the unidirectionally biasing coil spring, for the return spring asshown in FIG. 5, so that the clutch lever 8 is biased by the torsionspring 60 to be capable of being charged-over between the termination offorward and backward movements. In this case, the operating portion 82is biased toward the spool 2 at the position where the clutch lever 8terminates its forward movement, thereby being positioned in furtherclose proximity to the spool 2.

In addition, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 61 designates a support at theclutch lever 8 for supporting one end of torsion spring 60, 62designates a support at the doubling plate 14 for supporting the otherend of the same, and 70 designates an anti-reverse-rotation mechanismhaving a pawl 71 in mesh with the anti-reverse-rotation plate 24 in FIG.1, the pawl 71 being controlled to be on or off by use of an operatingknob 72.

As seen from the above, the fishing reel of the invention is providedwith a clutch operating portion projecting toward the spool to permitthe free rotation of the spool to be quickly stopped by use of theangler's finger operating the clutch lever, in continuation of thedisconnecting of the clutch mechanism.

Hence, the angler can keep the fishing rig in the most suitable positionfor casting to always perform his desired casting.

Although several embodiments have been described, they are merelyexemplary of the invention and not to be constructed as limiting, theinvention being defined solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fishing reel comprising a reel body having apair of side frames, a spool having a trunk and end flanges connected atopposite ends of said trunk and disposed between said side frames forwinding up a fishing line, a drive mechanism for driving said spool, aclutch mechanism for selectively allowing said spool to either bedrivingly coupled to said drive mechanism or to freely rotate withrespect to said drive mechanism, and a clutch operating mechanism foroperating said clutch mechanism, said clutch operating mechanism havinga clutch lever located at and extending outwardly from one of saidframes in a direction radially of said spool and an operation portionlocated at said one side frame and connected to an end of said clutchlever, which is movable to a first position where said clutch mechanismis operated to drivingly engage said spool and drive mechanism and to asecond position closer to an axis of said spool than said first positionwhere said clutch mechanism is operated to allow free rotation of saidspool with respect to said drive mechanism, said operation portion beingexposed to the outer surface of said reel body and having an extensionextending from said clutch lever at least partially in an axialdirection of said spool toward the other side frame, said extensionopposing said one side frame in a radial direction of said spool andhaving an utmost end which is positioned radially outwardly with respectto a first spool flange located at the side frame at which said clutchlever is located, said utmost end terminating such that it does notsubstantially intercept any plane which cuts through and isperpendicular to said trunk, said extension, when said operating portionmoves to said second position, moving toward the axis of said spool withsaid utmost end terminating at a location adjacent a periphery of saidfirst flange and in close proximity to an outermost layer of fishingline wound onto said spool so that when said operating portion is pushedby an angler's finger toward said second position where said pushingoperation is terminated, said finger approaches said spool making itpossible to stop by said finger the free rotation of said spool, incontinuation of the pushing of said operation portion to said secondposition and wherein said one side frame has a recess therein and saidclutch lever is mounted to extend outwardly from said one side framethrough a bottom face of said recess.